The Delhi high court on Thursday declined to entertain the Centre’s appeal against an order directing it to release ₹ 20 lakh from the reserved funds of NGO Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), whose registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) was cancelled, and asked the government to seek vacation of the order through an application within a week.
Supreme Court Orders Centre to Challenge Earlier Ruling
The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, has instructed the Centre to submit an application to vacate a single judge’s order from May 19. The court has set a deadline of one week for this action.
We permit the appellant to file an application within a week from today. “Having considered the submission of the counsel of the parties, we need not go into the merits for the reason that the order passed by the single judge is an interim order, vacation of which can be sought by the appellant. Pleadings in this matter are complete and written submissions have been filed. In its appeal, the Centre, represented by additional solicitor General Chetan Sharma, contended that although the single judge had permitted it to present oral arguments, it was not allowed to file written submissions.
In case it is not possible to hear the matter on 30.9, an endeavour shall be made to hear the application filed,” the court said in its order.
